The X-ray pattern of ice recorded at −10°C reveals, along with the reflexes of a hexagonal phase, intense diffuse X-ray scattering, testifying to the presence of a noncrystalline phase in the sample. Heating of ice to a temperature close to the melting point leads to almost complete decomposition of the crystalline phase. As this takes place, intense diffuse X-ray scattering with a maximum at $2\Theta$ of 23°C appears in the diffraction pattern, which is typical for a metastable amorphous phase. The first maximums of the radial distribution function for the metastable amorphous phase of ice appear to be close in their positions to the first radii of the hexagonal phase coordination spheres.
61.10.-i X-ray diffraction and scattering
$^1$Department of Solid State Physics, Faculty of Physics, Moscow State University, Moscow, 119991, Russia
$^2$Center of Hydrophysical Research, Faculty of Physics, Moscow State University, Moscow, 119991, Russia
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